TAN NAGRECHA

League Finals Judge 2007

Sally Lewis making the presentation of a commemorative gift

To League Finals Judge Tan Nagreche

I was born and brought up in India and spent my childhood rescuing stray puppies and kittens from the slums. I would hide them in our apartment until my parents found them and they would eventually disappear.

When I came to England in 1976 at the age of nine, to visit my uncle, I bought a pocket size book on the different breeds of dog at a bric a brac sale and on returning to India this book became my bible and I spent hours leafing through it looking at the different breeds.

There was a big house about 2 miles away from where I lived which had 2 Dalmatians and I would regularly walk there just to catch a glimpse of those spotty dogs running around. They fascinated me and 1 promised myself I would one day own a dog. I had heard about Crufts, the biggest dog show in the world and dreamed that one day I would come back to England and visit this show. Little did I know ....

My parents sent me to England in 1986 to finish my education and the first thing I did was go to the Mayfield Kennels and bought a Samoyed, who was with me till he was 6. he was followed by 2 Pyreneans and then came the Saint Bernard’s.

My kennel has had ifs fair share of success and I have made up a total of 16 Champions in 3 different breeds, who between them have won nearly 150 CC's. with 3 BIS and 2 RBIS at all breed championship shows. 5 dogs between themselves have won 24 groups and a further 36 group placing; My dogs have been top working on three occasions and in the top 5 each time. winning up to press 8CC'S at Crufts. I give CC's in St. Bernard’s, Pyrenean Mountain Dogs and Leonbergers and I am up for CC's in some other breeds. 2006 was a good year as I have shown the top St. Bernard, now for the 9th. Year running top Tibetan Mastiff and co‑own the top Norfolk Terrier and the top Norwich Terrier bitch.

The giant breeds are close to my heart and I am very much looking forward to judging the Great Danes at this prestigious event,